A Closer Look at What Salo Brings to the Bolts

Fast Facts

Was a ninth-round draft pick, selected 239th overall, by the Ottawa Senators at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft

Was teammates with current Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund as a member of the Vancouver Canucks from 2002-03 to 2008-09

With the game-winning goal on November 25, 2011 at Phoenix, Salo surpassed Mattias Ohlund as the Canucks' defenseman with the most game-winning goals (20) in franchise history

Salo has competed for Finland on the international stage, appearing in two World Championships, three Winter Olympics and one World Cup, winning silver medals at the 2001 World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics, as well as a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Honored as a member of the NHL All-Rookie Team following the 1998-99 season after registering seven goals and 19 points in 61 games with Ottawa

By The Numbers:

Sami Salo scored seven power play goals last season for the Vancouver Canucks

2:19 — Average shorthanded time on ice logged by Salo last season, which ranked third among all Canucks defensemen behind only Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Bieksa. This should bode well for the Lightning in 2012-13, as Salo's ability to kill penalties will help improve a Bolts' penalty kill unit that finished 26th in the 30-team league last season. 2:45 — Average power-play time on ice per game, which ranked second among all Canucks blueliners and fifth overall on the team. Salo's right-handed shot and ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone and spark the transition should enhance the Lightning's unit with the man advantage that is looking to improve upon a 15.2 percent efficiency rating last season. 3 —Game-winning goals potted by Salo in 2011-12, leading all Vancouver defensemen and matching the second-highest single-season total of his career. Salo notched the game-deciding tallies on October 15, October 22 and November 25.7 —Power-play goals scored by Salo last season, his most since he had nine in 2005-06. His total of tallies with the man advantage also was tops among all Canucks blueliners in 2011-12 and was fourth overall on the team. 14 — Average number of penalty minutes accrued by Salo over the past three seasons, proving he is a physical, yet responsible defenseman who plays the game right and will not prove to be a liability defensively. 77 — Blocked shots recorded by Salo in 2011-12, his most since the 2007-08 season when he had 79.